India, July 23 -- Almost 50% of the 3,500 primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) in Punjab are facing financial challenges and need to be strengthened, said finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday.

Cheema, who was speaking at an event organised to celebrate NABARD's 44th foundation day, said out of 3,500 PACS in the state, around 1,800 are currently operating profitably, while others face financial challenges.

He urged the farmers of Punjab to focus on strengthening the PACS network across the state. The finance minister, who spoke at length on the current state of agricultural credit societies, lauded the significant contributions of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in fostering the growth ...